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World’s oldest person celebrates 117th birthday in UK - What is the secret to her longevity?
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest person, is celebrating her 117th birthday with family and friends at a care home in Surrey, UK, marking a year of notable firsts including meeting King Charles.
- Caterham met King Charles in September 2024, shortly after her 116th birthday, and reminisced about his 1969 investiture as Prince of Wales, highlighting her long historical perspective as the last surviving subject of Edward VII.
- She became the world’s oldest person in April 2025 after the death of the previous record holder, Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, and credits her longevity to avoiding arguments, listening to others, and doing what she enjoys.
- Caterham is also one of the oldest known survivors of Covid-19, having contracted the virus in 2020 at age 110, and has a rich personal history including marriage to a British Army lieutenant colonel and living abroad in Hong Kong.
- While Caterham holds the current record for oldest living person, the longest-lived person ever recorded remains Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years and 164 days.
